Arsenal have been informed that referee Slavko Vincic may have spared them from conceding a penalty during their 1-0 loss to PSG in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night.
The Gunners were under pressure early, conceding a goal when Ousmane Dembele’s shot found the net via a deflection and the post. Soon after, PSG appealed for a penalty as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia went down under a challenge from Jurrien Timber, but Vincic waved play on and VAR chose not to intervene, prompting controversy among the French side.
On CBS Sports’ Golazo, former FIFA referee and rules analyst Christina Unkel explained that the decision was within acceptable bounds and that VAR was right not to step in. “If a penalty had been awarded, VAR wouldn’t have overruled it, but we also prefer letting the referee’s original call stand,” she said. “He was in a good position to assess the minimal impact of the arm extension.”
Although Vincic may have benefitted Arsenal with that call, he remained unpopular with the Emirates crowd, who booed him off at halftime and again as he returned, frustrated by several decisions that didn’t go their way.
Arsenal’s players shared that frustration—Bukayo Saka was booked for kicking the ball away after a free-kick went against him. Speaking on Amazon Prime, Alan Shearer acknowledged fans’ frustrations but defended Vincic’s call. “Timber’s arm is around him, which invites trouble, but Kvaratskhelia went down quite easily,” Shearer said. “If it was an Arsenal player in that situation, they’d be asking for a penalty. It’s one of those that could go either way, but once not given, it’s unlikely to be overturned.”
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